The BorgWarner Board of Directors announced the appointment of Frederic Lissalde to the president and chief executive officer effective August 1, 2018. He will also join the Board of Directors at this time.

Effective on the same date, James R. Verrier will step down from the president and chief executive officer role and serve in a non-executive advisory role to the Board of Directors and CEO to support a successful transition until he retires from the company February 28, 2019.

Lissalde has held positions of increasingly significant responsibility during his nineteen years with the company. He currently serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Previous positions include president and general manager of BorgWarner Turbo Systems, the company’s largest business, vice president and general manager of BorgWarner Transmissions Systems and vice president of global sales and marketing of BorgWarner Drivetrain Systems.

Lissalde also served as managing director of several operations in Europe for BorgWarner Drivetrain Systems. He holds a masters of engineering degree from ENSAM – Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts et Metiers – Paris and an MBA from HEC Paris. 

“I am very proud of what the team has accomplished during my time as president and CEO, and truly believe the company is in an excellent position for continued success. I feel the current strength of the company is what makes this the right time to step down. Fred is a proven global leader who I have worked with for many years. I’m confident he will continue to lead this great company forward for years to come,” BorgWarner President and CEO James R. Verrier said. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the BorgWarner employees for making my BorgWarner career so very special; it’s been a wonderful journey.”

Design Engineering, Inc. (DEI), one of the leaders in the development of heat and sound control products for multiple markets, announced David Ramirez as the company’s new vice president of operations.

Ramirez joined the company in May and has over thirty years of experience in systems management, quality control, logistics, sales and marketing in addition to purchasing and operations. Recognized as a team builder and problem solver, he has an impressive track record of assessing operations at all levels of the organization to establish key performance indicators and finding creative solutions to build sales utilizing company talent and resources.

For ten years, Ramirez worked in the wholesale sporting supply business for Outdoor Sports Headquarters, a southern California distribution center, followed by seven years with Buckeye Sports Supply in Canton, Ohio. Ramirez also worked for MAG Instruments as senior planner/plant manager before joining Edelbrock Corporation as the company’s international product manager.

Other key positions include serving as operations manager for Spectre Performance in Ontario, California, where one of his primary duties was to design, source, market, and distribute performance products to national chains and Internet retailers and as director of sales and marketing for Specialty Products Inc. in Los Angeles.

“We are extremely fortunate to have on board a person with such breadth in company operations at every department level. David is uniquely qualified to have a footprint on all stages of product development and sales. We trust he will establish the metrics and build the rapport and relationships with all stakeholders to ensure that DEI stays at the pinnacle of sales and branding on a global level,” DEI President David Markley said.

“My goal is to see continuous improvement and to set an example, and a pace, that will inspire every department to give their best. The entire team at DEI has been great to work with and very receptive to recommendations,” Ramirez said.

INDYCAR and Road America have agreed to a three-year extension for the Verizon IndyCar Series to continue racing at the historic permanent road course in east-central Wisconsin.

George Bruggenthies, Road America president and general manager, made the announcement prior to Sunday’s KOHLER Grand Prix, which was the 28th Indy car race on the 14-mile, 4.014-mile circuit dating to the first event in 1982.

INDYCAR, which returned to the region in 2016 following a nine-year hiatus, will continue to stage its event through at least 2021. The 2019 race weekend is scheduled for June 21-23.

“Ask any driver, from nearly every discipline, especially open-wheel, and they love this place,” Bruggenthies said. "The track is designed to make full use of the natural terrain, with elevation changes and undulating turns that allow for intense speeds that test driver skill to the maximum. Combine that with our park-like atmosphere, open seating and great spectator locations and it all equates to IndyCar Series racing at its best.

“We are very pleased to continue this relationship with INDYCAR and we look forward to many more incredible events at America’s National Park of Speed.”

The agreement continues the heritage of Indy cars competing at the track listed by most INDYCAR drivers as among their favorites on the schedule.

In related news, INDYCAR officials announced Phoenix’s ISM Raceway would not return on next year’s Verizon IndyCar Series schedule. An official statement released noted:

“INDYCAR has enjoyed its time racing at ISM Raceway, but attendance in the past three years has been disappointing despite considerable investment from both sides. Track president Bryan Sperber and his team have been terrific partners and are developing a beautiful facility, and INDYCAR will reconnect with them when conditions are right for both parties.”

The complete 2019 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule will be announced at a later date.

Harry, George and Bill Caruso, the founders of Oswego Speedway, will be memorialized as East Albany Street will be recognized as Caruso Bros Blvd at a dedication ceremony on Saturday, June 30, at 4 p.m.

The dedication will take place at the corner of East Albany St. and Shampine Drive just across from the speedway in Oswego, New York.

The Caruso brothers built Oswego Speedway from an old horse track and opened the famed oval in August of 1951 as a third-mile dirt track. It was paved the following year and expanded to its present five-eighths-mile course in 1961.

While under the guidance of the Caruso brothers, Oswego Speedway was acclaimed as one of the premier short tracks in the US. They nurtured the growth and popularity of the ultra-fast supermodifieds by paying one of the largest weekly purses for a single division in the country.

Additionally, they were the first to introduce modern innovations such as the electronic lap counter and scoreboard. The group was at the forefront of driver safety with innovations such as corner lights and corner flagmen in radio communication with each other and race officials. The track was also widely recognized as having some of the best concession stands of any sports venue.

The resolution to recognize the Caruso Bros’ accomplishments was brought before the City of Oswego common council by 6th ward Councilor Ron Tesoriero on Monday, June 11, and was unanimously passed.

“I was excited to sponsor the resolution that was originally brought to the floor by former 4th Ward councilor Shawn Walker,” Tesoriero said. “We’re both big Oswego Speedway supporters; I’m currently on a race team and Shawn was a former SBS competitor. Robert Metcalf, an Oswegonian who obviously has a passion for Oswego Speedway and all that it has meant to the community, spearheaded the campaign.”

“My father and uncles would be humbled by this honor, but they weren’t much for accolades,” Romey Caruso said, who spoke on behalf of the Carusos. “It was their passion for auto racing, particularly for supermodified racing, that drove them to make Oswego Speedway a success. And, I’m sure that they would be the first to share their legacy with the dedicated employees, drivers, owners, crew members, volunteers and race fans, all of whom I believe just wanted to be part of this special fraternity."

Jim France and the France Family will be honored with the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award on June 28, for their outstanding contributions to motorsports.
 
The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC) Award Dinner is presented by Sahlen's, NASCAR, International Speedway Corporation, Watkins Glen International (WGI) and IMSA and will take place at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York.

The France family members to be acknowledged will be Chairman of ISC and IMSA and NASCAR Vice Chairman/Executive Vice President Jim France, ISC CEO/Vice Chairperson and NASCAR Vice Chairperson Lesa France Kennedy, General Manager of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ben Kennedy, and Jim France’s daughter Amy France.

The award memorializes Cameron R. Argetsinger, founder and organizer of the first races at WGI. Mario Andretti, considered by many to be the greatest driver in the history of the sport, was the 2017 honoree.

J.C. Argetsinger and his sister Louise Argetsinger Kanaley, two of the nine children of the late Cameron and Jean Argetsinger, will present the award.

"The France Family has contributed greatly to the rise of motorsports," J.C. Argetsinger said, who was president of the IMRRC from 2008-2015. "The France name is synonymous with the success of auto racing around the world. It is a privilege to present them this award in our father's name."

Longtime race reporter Dr. Jerry Punch will be the master of ceremonies for a program that includes remarks from Vice Chairman of NASCAR Mike Helton, President of WGI Michael Printup, world-renowned race-car driver and TV commentator David Hobbs, the 1972 Daytona 200 winner Don Emde, inaugural recipient of the Argetsinger Award in 2014 Chip Ganassi, and 2016 recipient Roger Penske.

John Saunders, the Vice Chairman of the Racing Research Center’s Governing Council, will also speak. Saunders has been president of the International Speedway Corporation since 2009.
 
“Jim France and his entire family personify what the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award is all about,” Saunders said. “The Frances have set the standard for outstanding contributions to motorsports for more than 80 years. What they have accomplished is a classic all-American success story.”

Wiseco Performance Products has hired industry veteran Chris Whitworth as the organization’s automotive product manager.

Whitworth arrives at Wiseco and its parent company Race Winning Brands (RWB) with over a dozen years of automotive industry experience following stops at Raybestos Powertrain, Transtar Industries, Accel Performance Group and Wellman Products Group.  

Whitworth will focus his efforts on managing the development of the Wiseco Automotive and K1 Technologies automotive product lines while working alongside both division’s product development, supply chain and quality teams to ensure new products are developed to specification and delivered on-time.

With a coast-to-coast domestic distribution system and international customers in Europe, South America, Africa, Australia and Asia, Wiseco is one of the leaders in manufacturing high performance, forged pistons for the automotive performance market and many more markets including motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile, personal watercraft, and outboard marine. K1 Technologies produces high-quality race connecting rods and crankshafts.

Whitworth, a graduate of Kent State University, lives in Mentor with his wife Liz and sons Oliver and Owen and begins his new role effective immediately. In his spare time, he enjoys working on his project 1994 Corvette. Before converting the Corvette back to a street car, Whitworth raced autocross events and shook down his six-speed, ZZ LT1 crate-motor powered machine at lapping days at road courses across Ohio.

“Wiseco has always been an outstanding supplier of high quality, off-the-shelf pistons for high-performance engines. Hiring Chris is a key component in demonstrating our commitment to developing new products and will supercharge our efforts as we expand our product offerings so our customers can get exactly what they need, right off the shelf,” Race Winning Brands Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Sean Crawford said.

Simpson Performance Products has announced the acquisition of Merelli Compositi, a high-quality Italian manufacturer of carbon parts by Simpson subsidiary, Stilo Helmets.

Merelli produces carbon shells for Stilo Helmets and many other carbon performance products including ski components and ski boots.

Merelli has recently moved into a new larger facility in Onore, Italy, to meet increasing production demands. The new location is a close 25 miles to the Stilo headquarters. The Merelli family will continue with the company to grow the business, implement new technology, realize cost savings and create value.

"We are very happy with this acquisition which we know will be beneficial to the Simpson Group. More and more parts for racing and high-performance products are made of carbon to achieve the best combination of weight and strength. Merelli has demonstrated unique abilities and knowledge in this area. The Simpson group sells more carbon helmets than anyone else, so it is a natural progression for us to have a carbon shop,” CEO of Simpson Performance Products Chuck Davies said.

VP Racing Fuels may now be purchased at Lasco Auto Parts, an auto parts store known for its connection in motorsports with locations in Fenton and Grand Blanc, Michigan.

One of racing’s most popular specialty race fuel manufacturers, VP Racing Fuels are available in 5-gallon and 55-gallon drums. The most popular blends are currently in stock at Lasco.

As a Mid-Michigan distributor of VP Racing Fuels, customers may now pick up their favorite blend at either Lasco Auto Parts location.

For more information, visit here.

The owner of Yakima Speedway, the 1/2-mile oval track in Yakima, Washington, is reportedly looking for a buyer.

Track Owner Ted Pollock is in the process of re-listing the 46-acre property, complete with Yakima Speedway and Yakima Ice Rink, through Keller Williams Realty. The asking price is more than $9 million.

A previous deal for a multi-use development with a group of developers has fallen through after the group did not close the purchase back in January.

Racing is still on for 2018, however, with the opening race set for July 4, a subsequent race on July 7, and a three-day event set for October 5–7. The Speedway is also open Wednesday evenings from 4 - 7 p.m. for practice.

The track is currently being leased to Ron Bennet and Doug Bettarel, who will host this year’s races. There is an option to lease for the 2019 season, depending on the property’s status.

NASCAR officials have made the decision not to utilize the drafting package that was tested during the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway this year.

Instead, the earliest the package will now be used is 2019.

The package at the All-Star Race featured aero ducts, a higher spoiler, restrictor plates and an older model splitter. It was similar to the package that was previously tested in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and again this year in Xfinity competition at Pocono Raceway and Michigan Int’l Speedway.

The goal of the rules package was to increase passing and close quarter racing. The All-Star Race featured 11 lead changes this year with the package, up from three the previous year.

“Everyone is aligned on doing what’s best for the fans,” NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell told NASCAR.com. “As we went through that process of discussing (the drafting package) following the All-Star Race, we all realized we have something that could work.”

“We had a lot of detailed conversations, but in the end, we all felt like the best thing to do was to put some additional effort into some potential tweaks and focus on 2019 versus a race or two this season.”

NASCAR plans to continue to utilize the current rules package for the remainder of the season. Any potential package changes will be discussed during the off-season.

“We’re really happy with the racing we have on the track,” O’Donnell said. “We believe that the competition is closer than ever right now. Improving upon that is something that we always work to do, but that takes time. It takes a lot of collaboration in the industry.”